marshall



(No Model.)

W. P'. MARSHALL. Combined Door Plate, Gard Receiver, and Indicator.

No. 231,596. Patented Aug. 24,1880.

N. PETERS. PHOTO-LITHOGRAPHER, WASHINGTON. D C.

QMA/

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE..

WILLIAM P. MARSHALL, OF LOGANSPOR'I, INDIANA.

COMBINED DOOR-PLATE, CARD-RECEIVER, AND INDICATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 231,596, dated August24,. 1880.

Application filed June 23, 1880.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM I?. MARsnALL, ofLogansport, in the county of Cass and State of Indiana, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Combined Door-Plate,Card-Receiver, and Indicator 5 and I do here by declare the following tobe a full, clear, and exact description ofthe invention, such as willenable others skilled in the art to which itpertains to nia-ke and useit, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part ofthis specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in. combined door-plates,card-receivers, and iudicators; and it consists in the combination of aframe to receive the name, a drawer into which visiting-cards are to bedropped, and indicators which inform callers whether the inmates of thehouse are at home or absent, as will be more fully describedhereinafter.

rIhe object of my invention is to provide an indicator for persons whoreceive visitors, and which indicator will inform the callers whetherthe person or persons are at home to receive them or not, and which willthus prevent the door-bell from being rung and the visitors fromunnecessary waiting or alighting from their carriages. Y

Figure l is a front elevation of my invention. Fig. 2 is a verticalsection of the same. Fig. 3 is a detail view.

A represents a suitable cast-iron frame, which has either secured to itstop edge or cast with it in a single piece the door-plate B, in whichthe name is to be placed in any suitable manner. Theframe A below thisdoor-plate projects outward a suitable distance, so as to form a case orbox, and in the front side of this 00X are made two openings, C, whichare covered over by glass plates. Just back of these two openings areplaced two revolving indicators, which are entirely separate anddistinct from each other. Each one of these indicators has any desirednumber of sides or plates, and each plate has painted, engraved, orotherwise marked thereon any desired names or words. The upper one ofthese indicators is preferably provided with the names of any desirednumber of the residents in the house, and the lower one is provided withsuch words as At home, Not

at home,77 Absent from the city,77 or any others that may be preferred.These words on the lower indicator should be made sufciently large to beread across the sidewalk,

(No model.)

so that it will save visitors the trouble of getting out of theircarriages and going up the door-steps, ringing the bell, and waiting fora reply.

The shaft of each one of these indicators is provided with a spiralspring at one end to push the indicator against the opposite end of theframe, so that the indicator will be held in any position to which itmay be adjusted by frictional contact alone.

Each indicator is provided with a lsquare shank upon its end, so that akey can be applied to it, and thus turn it in any desired position, soas to show any one of its sides or plates.

In the back part of the frame A is placed a removable 4cardreceiver, D,to receive the lvisiting-cards, which drawer is provided with a suitablelock, clasp, or fastening` of any kind that maybe preferred. Through thetop ot' the frame is madea suitable opening, through which the cards canbe dropped, and which opening has a iiange formed all around it, so thatwater will not run readily into the hole. Over this hole is placed ahinged cover, G.

`Visitors upon going to the house and seeing that the person whom theycalled to see is not at home can drop their cards in the card' receiver,and the cards will be securely kept until the persons return home.

My invention may be attached tothe door, to the side of the door-frame,or to any other suitable support on the outside of the house.

I am aware that indicators for offices, express companies, and othersuoli. purposes have been provided with revolving cylinders or signs ofdiiferent kinds; but in no case have the parts been combined andarranged to operate as here shown and described.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- The combination of theplate A, frame A', door-plate B, secured to. or cast therewith at thetop edge, a removable card-receiver, D, placed in the back part of theframe and covered over by the door G, and the two revolving indicators,which are placed just behind the openings C in the frame A and in frontof the card-receiver, substantially as shown. Y In testimony that Iclaim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 18th day of June,1880.

Witnesses: WILLIAM I. MARSHALL.

BENJ.- F. LOUTHAIN, HENRY WETMOEE. i

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